Kyle Vassell will lead the attack for Conference South side Bishop’s Stortford
in their televised FA Cup first-round clash against Aidy Boothroyd’s
Northampton Town

Two years after he was called into the office at Brentford and given the bombshell news that he was not being offered a professional contract, you could say that Kyle Vassell has a point to prove.

The 20-year-old will lead the attack for Conference South side Bishop’s Stortford in their televised FA Cup first-round clash against Aidy Boothroyd’s Northampton Town on Sunday, and he is determined not to squander the opportunity to showcase his prodigious goalscoring talents.

His 16 goals in 16 starts this season, including a remarkable four in the space of 17 minutes against Hendon in the FA Cup second preliminary round, has already prompted several inquiries from League clubs and led to comparisons with Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle, who spent who spent a season on loan at Bishop Stortford two years ago, when he set a club record of 42 goals in one campaign.

“The comparisons were bound to happen,” said Vassell. “We’re both strikers and we both score goals so I knew people would compare us when I joined the club.

“But I’m very patient. All I’m thinking about now is just to give the best performance I can and get Stortford into the second round of the Cup.”

Vassell, who now earns his living as a construction supervisor, admits his rejection at Brentford was a shattering blow but insists it has made him even more determined to make the most of his potential.

“I went into the office thinking I was going to get a ‘yes’, so it was even more of a kick in the teeth,” he said. “But I came back stronger and I’m a miles better player now.

“I realised what an opportunity I had given away of being a professional footballer and that if I have another opportunity, I can never let it go again.

“I turned a negative into a positive. Since that day when I got released from Brentford, I don’t think there’s been a day when I haven’t kicked a football. Every day I do what I can to try to make myself better in any way, shape or form.

“Anything I can do to make myself half a per cent better, I’ll do, so the determination and the dream is still there.”

Rod Stringer, the Stortford manager, has been impressed by Vassell’s attitude and fully accepts that he could soon be moving on from the Hertfordshire club.

“There are people who have spoken to us, and we don’t want to stand in the boy’s way,” said Stringer. “At the end of the day, he’s 20 years old and he’s set up to be a pro footballer.

“What we’ve done is give him a platform and, by scoring goals, he’s obviously made his own portfolio and a lot of scouts are coming in to look at that.

“Whatever happens, we want him to play well on Sunday and if he does that, it will just be another feather in his cap. It’s a massive shop window for him, at the end of the day.

“I think he’s got it. It just needs someone to put that bit of trust in him and take him and I think he’ll do well. But while he’s still at Stortford, I know he’ll give us everything he’s got.”

Stringer, who took over as manager from former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Ian Walker in 2011 and has guided the club to third place in the Conference South table and the first round proper of the FA Cup two seasons running, is confident Vassell and his team-mates can overcome a Northampton side currently sitting on the bottom of League Two with just two wins from 15 games this season.

“Obviously, we’ve got the home advantage and we’re playing well at home as well,” said Stringer. “Our league form has been good and the lads will definitely be up for it.

“Maybe on the day we could fall down on a bit of quality in the right areas, but I think with a good crowd and us giving it our best shot, I don’t see why there can’t be an upset.

“To be honest, I think that’s why ITV have picked this game because when, when the draw came out, it was clearly one where an upset looked on the cards.”